Book clubs have become “the thing” to do over the last few years, and I think they’re a great idea. Whether you meet together as neighbors, church members, or friends, you’ll find the experience to be rewarding.
Education – as you read together in your group, you’ll be exposed to books you might not have thought to pick up on your own. You’ll learn things about other cultures, other religions, other styles of writing – you will find yourself more well-rounded.
Enlightenment – when you discuss the books with the other people in the group, you will hear their thoughts and opinions on what was read, and you’ll share your thoughts as well. As you listen and share, you’ll find yourself coming to a deeper understanding of the book, and the others will appreciate hearing what you have to say.
Friendship – being in any sort of club will foster friendships, but in a book club, your main reason to meet is to talk to each other, and you’ll get to know each other well that way.
Incentive to Read – as we go from day to day, we can become too busy to read. When you are a member of a book club, you have an incentive to get the book read by a certain date.
If you don’t know of a book club currently operating in your area, it’s simple to start one. Contact 5-10 of your friends, work associates, church friends, and neighbors. Ask them if they would like to join. You may have to scramble a bit to find a time that works best for the majority, and not everyone will be able to make it each time, but with some compromise, you’ll be able to set a time. Decide whether the group should meet at your home each month, or if the location should rotate. You can decide whether to serve dinner or a refreshment, or to leave food out of the equation altogether.
The most important part of your book club will be the selection of books. Choose books that you feel will appeal to the majority of your group. It’s usually best to avoid books with steamy content, unless you already know that your group enjoys a little spice. Also, choose books that will give the group plenty to talk about at the meeting. It’s best if you can choose the books a couple of months in advance, giving the group time to locate the book at the store or library. You can rotate who chooses the books, as well, but it’s a wise idea to have a president or a captain who can oversee and make sure everything is running smoothly.
If you would like to participate in a book club but are unable to, due to time constraints or other limitations, you might consider joining an online club. If you head over to the forums here on Families.com, you’ll see that I just started a club exclusively for members of this site.
Whether you meet in someone’s home, in a church, at a restaurant, or online, you’ll find that book clubs can be a blessing in your life and be a lot of fun as well.
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